A rebranded British Livestock Genetics (BLG) website has been launched with the support of the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to continue the work of promoting the UK livestock and animal breeding sector to a global audience. Under the banner ‘Great Britain – Great Livestock’ the new-look site provides both domestic and international audiences with a source of information, news and forthcoming events on the UK livestock sector.

BLG is a National pan-industry consortium covering the farm animal breeding sector, formed to assist in the development and maintenance of profitable long-term business generated by exports of British livestock and genetics.

The livestock sectors covered by BLG members include: Alpacas, Beef and Dairy Cattle, Goats, Pigs, Sheep, Livestock consultancy, Export arrangements and shipments. BLG aims to creates a positive, favourable image in international markets to promote Britain as a supplier of high-quality breeding animals, semen and embryos.

On the website, News items are updated frequently and are a good source of topical information from the livestock breeding sector. The International Diary is a key to the principal livestock events around the world and also informs of forthcoming events where there is British involvement. Brochures in English as well as other languages promoting British Livestock are available to download within the International section.

A new feature of the site is a prominent ‘Partners’ area which allows specified companies to benefit from a ‘click through’ website link in return for a small annual fee. If you would like any further information, or wish to be featured as a ‘Partner’, please email livestockgenetics@outlook.com.

After an extended period of negotiations, 29th March 2016 saw the announcement that an Export Health Certificate (No. 7852 EHC) is now in place for Ovine & Caprine semen to the USA.

Commenting on behalf of Export Certification Ltd & British Livestock Genetics Consortium, Henry Lewis said that the EHC was in two parts and that there was also a Scrapie Support document to go with it. Examples of them and the Notes for Guidance can be seen on the recently re-vamped UKECP website (www.ukecp.com) along with all other active EHCs for the UK livestock sector.

The Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and British Livestock Genetics Consortium (BLG) are lending their support to a number of overseas expos and Inward Missions aimed at helping UK farming and livestock breeding organisations to promote their services on a global stage.

Beef Expo brings together the very best in British commercial and pedigree cattle, equipment, knowledge-sharing, and show classes for everyone involved in the industry. Regularly attracting international visitors and exhibitors from around UK, it is the number one showcase for the British beef sector. It will be held in Bakewell on 20th May with farm tours and a gala dinner taking place on the 19th.

Preparations are in-hand for what promises to be another hugely successful NSA Sheep Event. With the theme ‘Adding Value’, the premier event in the sector will showcase all that is great about sheep farming, from the best services and products to industry best practice and cutting edge innovation. Malvern is the venue on 27th July.

A British Livestock Genetics stand will again be arranged at this year’s Irish National Ploughing Championships to be held in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, Republic of Ireland 20th – 22nd September. British beef, sheep and pig breeding associations and genetics companies are invited to display literature at this prestigious event which last year saw an attendance in excess of 280,000 with over 1,500 exhibitors.

Eurotier, which takes place in Hannover, Germany, will once more host a British Livestock presence. Held every two years, this is the world’s largest indoor agricultural exhibition boasting 150,000+ visitors and over 2,300 exhibitors – half of which are international companies. As such, Eurotier provides UK companies with a platform for promoting their sector to a global market.